Jacob Latimore, Actor, The Chi (Photo credit: Photo Credit: Eclipse Content /Arnold Turner & John Washington 4 LLF (Courtesy of LLF/FrontPageFirm/JL Media PR)
Presenter Actress Porscha Coleman on LLF stage (Photo credit: Photo Credit: Eclipse Content /Arnold Turner & John Washington 4 LLF (Courtesy of LLF/FrontPageFirm/JL Media PR)
BET President Louis Carr, Jacob Latimore, Donell Jones, Q Parker & more celebrated Living Legends Foundation’s 35 years of honoring Black music.
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ATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, October 6, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — A landmark evening unfolded Friday as The Living Legends Foundation, Inc. (LLF) marked 35 years with its Anniversary Awards Dinner & Gala at Flourish by Legendary in Atlanta, drawing together leaders from music, entertainment, radio, and media.
For over three decades, this nonprofit has uplifted the executives, broadcasters, entrepreneurs, advocates, and visionaries whose behind-the-scenes efforts have shaped the sound, business, and worldwide reach of Black music. With Chaka Khan acting as Honorary Ambassador and Q Parker serving as Honorary Gala Chair, the 35th anniversary event both honored that remarkable legacy and underscored LLF’s ongoing commitment to recognizing the past, assisting industry professionals today, and cultivating future leaders.
“It has taken a moment to truly reflect on what it means to give 35 uninterrupted years of your life to something you believe in,” said David Linton, LLF Chairman. “I thank God for allowing me the privilege of serving my industry family through the Living Legends Foundation and for the honor of serving as only the third Chairman in its 35-year history.”
Louis Carr, President of BET, was presented with the Ray Harris Lifetime Achievement Award, capping a milestone year that also saw him celebrate 40 years at the network. Actress Porscha Coleman, known for BET+ and Paramount’s Tyler Perry’s Divorced Sistas, delivered a special tribute to Carr’s leadership and its far-reaching impact on Black talent and storytellers. The award’s namesake, Ray Harris, personally handed the honor to Carr.
Phylicia Fant, Global Director of Black Music & Culture at Amazon Music, received the Mike Bernardo Female Executive Award, presented by Honorary Gala Chair and 112 founding member Q. Parker. The Black Promoters Collective earned the A.D. Washington Chairman’s Award, given by LLF Chairman David C. Linton, in recognition of the collective’s influence on live entertainment and Black ownership. Atlanta radio personality Greg Street accepted the Frankie Crocker Radio Personality Award from Charita Brittenum, while Kenny Smoov took home the Jerry Boulding Radio Executive Award, presented by LLF Board member Colleen Wilson. Juliette Jones, COO of Alamo Records, was honored with the Impact Player Award from LLF President Azim Rashid, and Tim Reid, former SVP of Repertoire & Marketing at BMG Recorded Music, received the Music Executive Award in a touching moment presented by his father, celebrated actor and filmmaker Tim Reid Sr.
Ted Lucas, Founder and CEO of Slip-N-Slide Records, was given the Hip-Hop Visionary Award, presented by Ric Ross, while Video Music Box creator Ralph McDaniels accepted the Entrepreneur Award from Skip Dillard. Entertainment attorney and ART@WAR Entertainment CEO James McMillan, Esq. received the Kendall Minter Entertainment Advocate Award, presented by former Motown Records President Kedar Massenburg. Collectively, the honorees embodied LLF’s 35-year mission of celebrating the executives, entrepreneurs, broadcasters, and advocates who have shaped Black music and entertainment.
The anniversary gathering brought together generations of entertainment and cultural figures, including Jacob Latimore, Donell Jones, Porscha Coleman, Johnell Young, Nicci Gilbert, Jessica Woo, Ragan Whiteside, Tim Reid Sr., Daphne Maxwell Reid, Polow Da Don, Shannon Brown, Paul Anthony of Full Force, Stephen “S Dot” Gree, Pat “Sleepy” Brown, and Ray Murray of Organized Noize Production. Music and business leaders present included Michael Mauldin, Ray Daniels, Ron “Tricky” Montgomery, ONE Musicfest founder Jason “J.” Carter, Maurice “Moetown” Lee, and Steve Canal.
Influential voices from radio and media also attended, such as Steve Hegwood, owner of Streetz 94.5; Monica Barnes of The Steve Harvey Morning Show; Gary Wit Da Tea of The Rickey Smiley Morning Show; Jamal Ahmad of WCLK FM; and V-103’s Rick Caffey, Reggie Rouse, Francesca Amiker, Tori Starr, and Skye Butterfli.
HONOREES SPEECH HIGHLIGHTS
Acceptance speeches throughout the evening reinforced the Foundation’s themes of legacy, leadership, and responsibility toward the next generation.
Louis Carr — Ray Harris Lifetime Achievement Award:
Carr emphasized the critical need to preserve Black music history and ensure the contributions of industry builders are not overlooked.
“The work that the Living Legends Foundation is doing is more important today than it has ever been,” Carr said. “As people try to erase our history, try to change our journey and try to erase our contributions, it is more important today than ever.”
Reflecting on his four decades at BET, Carr credited Black music with the network’s success, stating, “Without Black music, BET would not be where it is today.”
Phylicia Fant — Mike Bernardo Female Executive Award:
Fant delivered one of the night’s most thoughtful messages, challenging conventional ideas of achievement and urging attendees to measure success by the people they have aided.
“When you’re young, you think success is about getting somewhere,” Fant said. “Then you live a little longer and realize success is about who gets somewhere because you were here.”
She closed by defining legacy through service: “I stayed long enough to become something greater than successful. I became useful — useful to my community, useful to the next generation, useful to something bigger than myself. That is legacy.”
James McMillan, Esq. — Kendall Minter Entertainment Advocate Award:
McMillan used his acceptance speech to advocate for greater investment in the executives working behind the scenes. “Sustainability in our culture requires an ecosystem,” McMillan said. “My mission has become building the minds behind the music just as vigorously as the voices on the mic.”
Paying tribute to the late Kendall Minter, McMillan stressed the importance of intellect, ownership, and leadership.
The Living Legends Foundation gratefully acknowledges the corporate partners and supporters whose contributions made its 35th anniversary celebration possible, including: Alamo Records, Amazon Music, Universal Music Group, Anchor Promotions, BET, Black Promoters Collective, BMG, Fire Marshall Entertainment, Mauldin Brand, Vernon Brown/Cash Money, V-103, Warner Music Group, WCLK Radio, Republic Records, CineFi, and HarbourView Equity Partners.
For coverage materials and interview inquiries, contact: Tosha Whitten at Tosha@FrontPageFirm.com or Jalila Larsuel at jlmediapr@gmail.com.
Learn more at LivingLegendsFoundation.com.
Jalila Larsuel
Living Legends Foundation Inc
213-369-4362
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